The other day, I tweeted the question, “Would you rather lose your phone or your wallet?”

The question seemed to hit a nerve.  At some point, each of us has probably endured one or the other.  (And for some, more often than others…)

But, more interesting, was that the camps were divided.  Many said they would rather lose their phone.  However, almost as many said they would pick their wallet to lose.

Are you surprised that some would rather lose their wallet before their phone?  It just goes to show how much we have become dependent on these little devices.  Whether an iPhone, Blackberry, or even a simple cellphone, many of us have come to rely on them as our pocket brains.

I know many people who would not be able to recite their spouse’s number without their phone!

What’s in your wallet?

Like a popular ad slogan asks, “Do you know what’s in your wallet?”  This is going to be an important question after you lose it.

The majority of people do not have an inventory of what is in their wallet.  So, when they do lose it, they are scrambling to figure out who to call to report lost cards.

In this day and age, what in your wallet is not really replaceable?  Credit cards? A driver’s license?  Even receipts are not as important as they once were.

Many people live solely by their cards and rarely use cash.  I do this, so it could be particularly inconvenient from this aspect.  And, of course, losing your driver’s license can be a pain if you travel often and need it for ID.

Reducing the impact: (more…)

Once upon a time, time management systems came in a box.

I remember one of my first from Franklin Quest (predecessor to Franklin Covey).  It had a dayplanner with calendar, todo list, notes, and address book.  It had an archive binder to store your old pages.  And last but not least, it even had a 4 tape audio course from Hyrum Smith.

Time management systems have advanced by leaps and bounds since then. Technology has forever changed the landscape of available tools.  However, they don’t seem as nicely packaged anymore.

What is in Your System?

Try asking someone, “What do you use for time management?”

These days, the answer is usually not that simple.  You will probably get a response that is a conglomeration of Outlook, multiple todo lists on smartphones and online, email and text messages, Google Calendar and Wave, etc. etc. etc.

Most people do not know what is “in” and what is “out” of their system.  This leads them to use whatever is handy to try to keep organized.

Post-Its.  Pads of paper.  An appointment card from the doctor’s receptionist.  The infamous napkin in the restaurant.  These all have good intentions, but inevitably the pads end up in a drawer, the appointment card lost in a purse or wallet, the Post-Its on the floor, and the napkin forever buried in a stack of papers never to be seen again.

Clearly defining your system will prevent you from reaching for tools that you should not.  This is a simple, yet crucial exercise.

Exercise: Define Your System (more…)

Do you constantly say that you have too much to do and too little time?

If you have one… is your todo list a mile long?

This seems to be a common sentiment in today’s world.  Everyone has too much on their list and too many obligations to keep up with.

Have you stopped to consider why your load is so big?  How did you end up under so many obligations in the first place?

What is all of this weight holding you back?

Too Much on Your Truck?

A better question may be… where did all this weight come from?

If you are truly overloaded, how did you get there?  Over time you have taken on more than you can handle.  It did not happen instantly or overnight.

Often, this is self-inflicted time management.  You have been practicing habits and behaviors that have lead to this situation.  You have been creating your own stress and life friction.

How can we limit this load that prevents us from being productive and enjoying our day?

6 Ways to Protect from Overload

(more…)

Where is your mail going?

Or better yet… how many places is your mail going?

The problem that many people experience is simple: too many mailboxes.

How many inboxes do you have to check? (more…)

On your last trip, what did you forget to pack?
You would be amazed what people will forget:

• Socks
• Cell phone charger
• Workout shoes
• Maybe even their brain! (Some people have admitted to this…)

Traveling can be stressful enough, but when you are disorganized and worrying about packing it only adds to your Life Friction.

The Power of a Travel Packlist
Whether it is for business or personal, it always seems to be a complicated evolution to gather the items for you trip. The best way to make the process easier and less stressful, is to make it repeatable.

A travel packlist is just that, a simple list of all the things you need to bring. By having a list, you can use it each and every time that you need to pack whether for a business trip or vacation.

(If you think you do not need or are above having a packlist, please go back to the first paragraph to see what you forgot…)

How to Make Your Packlist & Where to Keep it

It is easy to write your list by starting with some simple categories. You will also find that this grouping helps when packing. Here are the sections of my packlist:

• Clothes – All clothing items both business and casual
• Toiletries – all toiletries down to and including Tylenol
• Gym – All the stuff needed to workout whether shoes or gym clothes
• Other – miscellaneous stuff ranging from business cards to my travel wallet
• Gear – In this age of technology, this section ranges from noise-cancelling headphones to my cell phone charger

Again, these are my categories. Choose your own and personalize your list.

The best way to maintain this list is in a spreadsheet. That way you know exactly where it is (filed on your computer) and can simply print a fresh copy each time you need to pack.

Evolves Over Time
You will find that your packlist evolves and becomes even more powerful over time. When you travel, you will discover things that are not on the list. Either you had not considered them or your needs have changed. Make sure you are updating your list to add things you want to remember next time.

You will even find that you will delete things off the list as they become obsolete. For example, I no longer pack an iPod, because all my music is on my phone.

Better Travel

WIth your travel packlist, you will find that you pack in less time, with less stress, and with fewer forgotten items.

It may even prevent you from buying another cell phone charger on that next business trip.  :)

Best wishes on your future travels!